Pelletier named Bentley School principal

Friday

May 18, 2007 at 12:01 AMMay 18, 2007 at 6:20 PM

Schools Superintendent Dr. Lawrence L. Callahan announced the appointment of Nancy Jennings Pelletier as the principal of the Bentley School as of July 1. Pelletier will replace retiring principal Lynda Coffill, who was appointed to that position in July 2000.

“I’m very excited about the appointment of Nancy Pelletier to the Bentley principalship,” Callahan said. “I know she will continue the fine work of retiring principal Lynda Coffill.”

Nancy Jennings Pelletier is presently an assistant principal at the Collins Middle School in Salem. In 1980, the Title I director, Brendan Walsh, currently a School Committee member, appointed her as a teacher’s aide in the Title I summer program. She later became a parent coordinator and instructional materials coordinator/on call substitute tutor for the Title I program. In 1987, Pelletier was appointed as a mathematics and science teacher at the Collins Middle School, and became a middle school curriculum coordinator in 2000. Principal Mary Manning appointed her as an assistant principal in 2004.

“I am very excited about this appointment as principal of the Bentley School, but it is bittersweet since I will be leaving the Collins community,” said Pelletier. “I felt I was ready to move on to a principal’s position and I wanted to continue my career in the Salem Public Schools.”

“My original degree was in elementary education and I majored in early childhood so the Bentley School seemed perfect to me,” she added.

Collins Middle School Principal Mary Manning praised the choice made by the search committee and the superintendent.

“Nancy will be a great loss to the Collins Middle School, but I am really glad she is staying in the school system,” Manning said. “She did a wonderful job here at Collins, and I know she will do a wonderful job at the Bentley.”

While at the Collins Middle School, Pelletier became interested in curriculum design and pursued a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with a concentration in math and science at Lesley University.

“I love working with teachers, looking at student work, modeling teaching strategies and facilitating curriculum discussions,” Pelletier said. I strongly believe that it is important to provide an educational environment that supports and nurtures the whole child at an early age. This means connecting with families and the community.”

Not only is Nancy Pelletier a lifelong resident of Salem, her roots in this community run very deep. She attended the Horace Mann School and graduated from Salem High School, and all of her children went through the Salem Public Schools. Her parents and grandparents also attended the Salem Public Schools. In fact, the Salem High School Class of 1925 included her grandfather, the class president, and her grandmother, the valedictorian.

“Nancy’s background in curriculum development is very strong,” said Assistant Superintendent Alyce Davis said. “I know that she will be an excellent resource for the staff at the Bentley School and that she will work to further the wonderful programs that are already in place at the school.”

The newly appointed principal is looking forward to renewing old relationships and building new ones at the Bentley School.

“I can only hope that my expertise and enthusiasm supports the staff and the community as we work together,” Pelletier said, “to prepare our young people for the challenge of an every changing society.”